The youngster had no record of violence before he was found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger. "The risk factors identified at the time of his offending included his sexual interests and an attraction to sexual violence as well as other issues considered relevant but amenable to change. Another suspect, Jon Venables was also taken into custody. Not long after the elderly woman sent the boys on their way, Bulger was almost rescued yet again. In October last year, a parole report warned that Venables has an "attraction to sexual violence" and "thinks about sex a lot". ROBERT Thompson abducted and tortured to death two-year-old James Bulger alongside his partner in crime Jon Venables when they were just ten years old. Robert Thompson (on the left) and Jon Venables (both born in August, 1982, ) are two felons, known in British history as the youngest convicted criminals at . Venables, who appeared via a video link that only the judge could see, pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images of children for a second time and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Eventually, Venables and Thompson placed Bulgers dead body (a forensic pathologist later concluded that he was dead at this point) across the train tracks, in hopes of making the whole thing look like an accident, and abandoned the scene before a train came along and severed the toddler in two. June 24, 2011. Jon Venables was 10 when he and Robert Thompson killed James Bulger The post was shared 627 times. [B]ut, in the end, he shot himself in the foot by giving me a detailed account of what James Bulger was wearing. Nevertheless, throughout the whole process, Thompson remained chillingly unfazed, earning him the nickname the boy who did not cry from the press. The youngster had no record of violence before he was found guilty of killing two-year-old James Bulger. As the jury foreman read the verdict, Venables and Thompson were sitting in an adult court dock that had been altered so that the boys could see over it. "Of course, because of his existing convictions he would need an exemption my advice would be 'don't bother applying'.". Under current legislation, child suspects are granted automatic anonymity in the youth courts and are routinely granted the same if they appear at crown court aside from exceptional circumstances. In fact, that first child nearly became the victim. All in all, Bulger sustained 42 injuries to his face, head, and body. James Bulgers father, Ralph, stands outside Liverpool Crown Court after making a statement to the parole board in hopes of keeping Jon Venables behind bars. 7 Oct 2021; Updated 13:36, 7 . Soon after, a woman saw Thompson punch Bulger and shake him. Children are seen by society as innocent and pure, without malice. But most did nothing and those that stopped and questioned the James Bulger killers soon enough let them go on their way to ultimately murder the toddler. Venables, Thompson, and Bulger then walked into two different stores where they interacted with both shopkeepers who, though suspicious of the older boys, let them go. He said: "I don't know how he was doing at school, but he was switched on and he was trying to con me, trying very hard". American Aviator Charles Lindbergh Was A God Among Men Until He Revealed His Nazi Sympathies, Two Seattle Artists Face Federal Charges For Faking Native American Heritage To Sell Art, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. We pay for videos too. I shouldnt have let go of his hand, Fergus later said. His identity is protected by a worldwide injunction - meaning that even trying to find out where he lives could land you in jail. Venables was held at the Red Bank secure unit in St. Helens, Merseyside, which was not revealed until after he had been released. Soon after the aborted abduction, Venables and Thompson were loitering around a snack kiosk hoping to steal candy when they noticed James Bulger by the door of a nearby butchers shop. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. So the authorities secretly visited Robert Thompson who lived in Walton, not far from the murder scene with his mother and 2 younger brothers. Closed-circuit camera footage revealed that a child fitting Bulger's description was led away from the shopping center by two young boys. Venables was caged once again in 2010 after being found with a hoard of horrifying child abuse images on his laptop. Mere luck had saved the boy and sealed James Bulgers terrible fate. Thus it was widely assumed that Thompson was the instigator even though psychiatrists and authorities have never been able to reach a conclusion on the boys motives. After intensive rehabilitation, the pair were handed new identities. The Liverpool railway embankment where James Bulgers body was found. After luring the toddler away from a shopping center in Bootle, Merseyside, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables kidnapped, tormented, and murdered him in 1993. Mr Bulger said: Ive always believed Venables will kill another child again if he is allowed back into the community. With some evidence in hand and the knowledge that the James Bulger killers were likely two children, the police checked nearby schools absentee lists for the day of the disappearance. Robert Thompson and Jon Venables The public was already outraged as the police were still not able to catch the killers. These boys asked who the toddler was and Venables replied that he was Thompsons brother and that they were taking him home. At the mall, James Bulger killers wandered from shop to shop, stealing anything they could get their hands on, then tossing their stolen booty down escalators just for the fun of it. But when the police eventually saw the CCTV footage from the shopping mall, they could not believe their eyes. Thompson was held at Barton Moss near Manchester, where he cultivated an interest in subjects like art and theater. The older boys ignored him and continued down to a secluded area near a canal. And if they hadnt been caught I fear they would have struck again.. Robert and Jon would sexually abuse, assault, and murder Bulger before dumping his body. In 2013, the parole approved his release from prison. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Another investigator said Thompson "would cry whenever there would be an awkward situation," to avoid questioning. He is yet to violate the terms of his release. BWP Media via Getty ImagesJames Bulger at age two. The twisted child killer,. Everything we know, Mr. Justice Edis sentenced Venables to 40 months in prison, saying, Shed objected to Ralphs petition, saying, Who are Miles Pfeffers parents? Robert Thompson was born on August 23, 1982 - the fifth of seven children. The seven years he spent in detention helped Robert as he is yet to reoffend or violate the terms of his release. He had passed five GCSEs, taken A-levels and enjoyed trips to the Lake District and even to the theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Sometimes Bulger ran ahead, leaving Venables and Thompson to beckon him back with calls of Come on, baby.. DetectivePhil Roberts was on Merseysides serious crime squad when he got a call at 6am on February 13, 1993, about a two-year-old boy who had gone missing from the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle. In addition, they thought that the kidnappers mightve been 13 or 14 years old, which threw them off track. The reports said that Robert is openly gay and is in a long-term relationship with a partner who knows his real identity. Gone outside with the boy, she said. New Zealand's immigration department had not received any applications from Venables, she told media. Robert had no father figure as his dad abandoned the family five years before the murder. Nevertheless, additional passersby could still see the partially-covered forehead injury, and one person even saw a tear on Bulgers cheek. Just a couple of days later, Bulger was found on the same railway track where his killers had left him. He was then told that hed have to wait two more years before hed be eligible for parole again. Not only did they find blue paint on Venables jacket, but they also found blood on Thompsons shoes. Venables and Thompson were found guilty of Bulger's abduction and murder on November 24, 1993 - makingthem the youngest people to be jailed for murder in 250 years. As required by law, he will be eligible for another parole review in due course.. The cops soon checked both boys homes. He was 10 years old. Official figures showed that Venables' attempt to keep his identity secret cost taxpayers more than 65,000. What about his mum, will you tell her Im sorry?. A woman concerned for the toddler told Venables and Thompson that she would take the child to the police station herself. Though Thompson was believed to have been the leader of the James Bulger murder plot, he has never reoffended since hes been released. But Denise Fergus, James's mum, does not support the proceedings and said her son's killer should keep his anonymity to avoid vigilante justice. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. Finally, they hit Bulger over the head with a 22-pound iron bar. Thompson hasnt reoffended per the terms of his release, but authorities believe he masterminded the plan that led to James Bulgers death. Having a partner thats comfortable with his identity must have helped a lot. Frantically she asked her daughter where he was. His identity is protected by a worldwide injunction - meaning that even trying to find out where he lives could land you in jail. He is a dangerous, predatory child abuser and killer, and I am terrified he will harm another child like my James,Ralph said. In 2010, reports stated that Robert had reintegrated into society and had built a healthy relationship with a community in the North West. I did kill him, Venables said. On November 24, 1993, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were found guilty of the abduction and murder of James Bulger, making them the youngest convicted killers in modern British history. This time, he also had a pedophile manual.This is my own fault,he allegedly told police. The kid killers were condemned to an adolescent detainment office, where they resided until their parole in 2001 at 18 years old. The twisted child killer, now aged 39, took the youngster from a shopping centre along with friend Robert Thompson, before the baby's dead body by a railway track. James Bulgers father Ralph said he could rest easy as one of his sons killers was refused parole, but feared he would re-offend if he was ever released. Rape survivor slams Gabby Petito Utah cop over handling of her case, 'Dark details' about boyfriend of US swim champ who mysteriously died, Disturbing red flags of Lindsay Clancy's psychosis before she 'killed 3 kids', Mysterious powder swamps US skies as residents report dust-covered cars, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Jon Venables was ten years old when he was arrested for the torture and murder of two-year-old James Bulger, Chilling CCTV shows the moment James was led away from his parents, Venables was jailed for two years in 2010 after he admitted downloading and distributing indecent images of children, James Bulger killer Jon Venables charged over indecent images of children. Nor did the panel recommend to the Secretary of State that Mr Venables should be transferred to open prison. How can anyone say this monster is safe to live among us ever again?. A move abroad would cost, of course, but the thinking is it would be cheaper in the long run.. The toddlers heartbreaking final words were: I want my mum.. Venables claimed he was acting in self-defence and the charges were dropped after he agreed to go on an alcohol-awareness course. She was also accused of being a loose woman who was often seen with several different men. Venables and Thompson then called for Bulger to come. Ive had urges, inquisitive.Mr. Justice Edis sentenced Venables to 40 months in prison, saying:The children depicted were often very young and vulnerable, there is discernible pain and distress suffered.. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. But sometimes the unthinkable happens - children kill. Though Venables father was still in the picture, his mother was known to be harsh toward the young boy. February 17, 2022 0 In the wake of baiting the baby away from a retail plaza in Bootle, Merseyside, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables seized, tortured, and killed him in 1993. Jon Venables pictured using a mobile phone, a questionable activity given his inability to maintain anonymity. At first, Thompson denied everything. At first glance, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables seemed like two ordinary 10-year-olds. That blow alone caused 10 skull fractures. After serving three years, he was released on parole. She turned to drink and fell into depression, as well as allegedly trying to take her own life with an overdose. All of the instruments used in the attack were found strewn around the area the iron bar, stones, and bricks all covered in the boys blood. Mary Bell, the 11-year-old who killed toddlers and got off light. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The parole experts cited there would need to be several very strict limitations on Venables and his contacts, movements and activities would need to be limited. Thompson was the fifth of seven children, born on August 23, 1982, in Liverpool, England. The toddler had gone missing two days before from the Strand shopping center, where Bulger was in the care of his mother. The. When Bulgers father, Ralph, saw that it was just two boys with whom his son had left the mall, he was relieved: I looked at Denise and smiled with relief. Now 38, It is believed that he is still. PA Images/Getty ImagesThe Liverpool railway embankment where James Bulgers body was found. After a three-week trial, the jury took only five hours to render a guilty verdict for the boys. Venables and Thompson were both charged. While serving his sentence, Thompson showed remarkable improvement. Several shoppers later remembered noticing the trio as they walked through the mall. A Match Made In Hell: How Robert Thompson And Jon Venables Became Killers At Age 10. BWP Media via Getty ImagesTen-year-old Robert Thompson, one James Bulgers killers, poses for a mugshot for British authorities on February 20, 1993. Venables was given a SECOND new identity following his release from prison in 2013. In their bid to have Venables' identity disclosed, lawyers for Ralph and Jimmy Bulger argued certain details about the killer and his life are "common knowledge" and easily accessible online. They were a match made in hell. Updated: 20:25, 29 Sep 2021 ROBERT Thompson abducted and tortured to death two-year-old James Bulger alongside his partner in crime Jon Venables when they were just ten years old. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. After bringing in Thompson and Jon Venables for questioning, Phil said: As far as Im concerned that day 20 years ago I stared evil in the face. Venables, however, is in prison after being convicted twice of child pornography offences. "My decision is in no way a reflection on the applicants themselves, for whom there is a profoundest sympathy," he said. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Robert Thompson and Jon Venables were arrested on February 18, 1993, a little less than a week after the murder. But by 4:15 p.m., there was no sign of the boy and so he was quickly reported missing to the police. As for Venables, he has been thrown in prison again on multiple occasions, most notably for possession of child pornography and a pedophile manual, which described how to abuse young girls in sickening detail. They were released on lifelong licence in 2001, but Venables was . 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